CERAMIC MATERIALS AND THE 21ST CENTURY HOUSING …...CERAMIC MATERIALS AND THE 21ST CENTURY HOUSING PROVISION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION By RAFIU A. SHEHU Department

1

CERAMIC MATERIALS AND THE 21ST CENTURY

HOUSING PROVISION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

By

RAFIU A. SHEHU

Department of Building Technology, College of Education (Technical),

Lafiagi. Abstract

Building construction has been a major industry since the Neolithic age when human being first made hut of stone, sticks, or rock. The processes of building construction have constantly improved after those first crude structures till date. In Nigeria, in spite of government efforts and on housing provision, the basic need still eludes a high proportion of Nigerians in the rural and urban centres due to the exorbitant cost of materials. To achieve the goals of this study, primary and secondary data were used to critically examine how ceramic materials and products can be used to enhance the performance of the housing sector in Nigeria. Findings showed that clay earth is abundantly available, durable, cost effective, fire resistant and easy for construction. This paper therefore, recommends that ceramic materials should be given due boost by governments by demonstrating good example through the use of these locally produced building materials.

Ceramic is earth brittle heat-resistant material made by firing a mixture of clay

and chemical at a high temperature. Housing is part of everybody’s personal history. It is a basic need of man. It is

a unit of the environment defined as residential environment which includes, in addition to the physical structure that human beings use for shelter, all necessary services, facilities, equipment and devices needed or desired for the physical and mental health as well as social will-being of the family and individuals (Hwoko, 1996).

In the building industry over the years, the cost of construction materials have been on the increase resulting in high cost of housing. To meet the needs of the larger Nigerian populace, there have been concerted efforts by various researchers to find

2

alternative building materials that are locally available and cheap particularly as can be found in the use of ceramic materials.

The soil has been used in the construction industry; masonry units, fired blocks and as a substitute for fine aggregates in concrete. The history of housing in Nigeria is the astonishing story of how individuals and groups have taken structures, group plans, access and services arrangement originally evolved to satisfy basic human needs and transform them into one of the greatest manifestations of the human spirit.

The chances are that it is in building that we work, play, learn, teach, worship,

negotiate state affairs and invent things (Hwoko,1996). Throughout history, there have been only two basic ways of building, you can either put one block upon another or you could make a frame or skeleton and cover it with a skin.

Building covers the whole structure for shelter satisfying conditions such as firmness (structure), commodities (purposes) and delight (aesthetics). The ceramic materials and products contribution to this condition are down-to-earth.

With population growth over the years in the communities, especially the urban centres where we have the industries, Universities and business interests, housing provision have become a major problem. This is in view of the rapid population growth without corresponding housing provision. This development has created scarcity and high cost of rentage.

This paper anchored on the application of architectural endogenous theory

explore the exploitation of the most readily available and indigenous material (clay) to promote effective housing delivery in Nigeria. Clay and clay products are significantly advantageous as they are cost effective, durable, fire resistant and highly acceptable. They do not necessarily require plastering or painting, they do not absorb water, hence prevent fungi. Its colour doesn’t fade and constructions with clay products are faster. The ceramic bricks, tiles and sanitary products produced under a normal industrial atmosphere will go a long way to promote cheap material utilization in the building industry apart from solving the problem of shortage created over the years as a result of economic recession which started from early 1980s,

Statement of Problems

In spite of government efforts and emphasis on housing provision, modest housing as a basic social need still elude quite a high proportion of Nigerians both in the rural and urban centres. it is expediently necessary therefore to ask the following fundamental questions; 1) What is responsible for the seemingly unabated low housing provision in Nigeria?

Could it be due to a) High cost of building material occasioned by scarcity?

World Educators Forum

3

b) Low technological know-how amongst Nigerians? c) A consequence of civilization where indigenous knowledge system is being

discountenance? This paper shall examine these aforementioned predicaments within the context

of exploring the readily available and affordable indigenous building material (clay) with a view to augmenting acceptable and affordable housing provision in the present day Nigeria. An Overview of Architectural Endogenous Theory

Endogenous theory also called endogenous growth theory was developed in the 1980s as a response to criticism on neo-classical growth model. The neo classical growth model is exogenously determined. In other words, it is generally by an assumed rate of technological progress. Endogenous growth theory could overcome the problem of housing provision by indigenizing the rate of technological progress vis-â-vis available and affordable local clay aimed at indigenous technological advancement. Some of the knowledge associated with the innovation spills over to other economic actors, which increases the actor’s ability to innovate. The virtuous cycle arises through this mechanism. Endogenous theory argues that policy measures can have an impact on the long-run growth rate of an economy, even if they do not change the aggregate savings rate.

This paper describes Endogenous growth on a strand, which is primarily theoretical; ask what modification is necessary to construct a theory of aggregate growth that makes the economics of discovery, innovation and technological change desirable. The use of ceramics materials, (Raw Earth) as a substitute for the high cost building material is a technological growth which will in turn improve productivity as regards to housing provision in Nigeria. It will help the Nigeria economy when housing production is done through local building materials. See plate 1 – 6

Plate 1: Clay Deposit site at Sobi Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Ceramic Materials and the 21st Century Housing Provision in Nigeria: Implications for Technical Education - Rafiu A. Shehu

4

Plate 2: Building Constructed with stabilized interlocking laterite bricks under

construction at Harmony Phase 2, Akerebiata Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Plate 3: Interior of building built with stabilized interlocking laterite

bricks at Hamony Phase 2, Akerebiata, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.


5

Plate 4: Building Constructed with stabilized interlocking laterite bricks at

Hamony Phase 2, Akerebiata Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Plate 5: Interlocking laterite brick making machine (M7 twin) at the site of

Deltrot Nig. Ltd. Sobi Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.


6

Plate 6: Interlocking laterite bricks produced at the site of deltrot Nig. Ltd. Sobi

Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The Study Area Location of Ilorin

Ilorin is the capital of Kwara state in Nigeria. Kwara state consists of 16 local government areas. Five of these local governments constitute Ilorin Emirate. Ilorin is located approximately on longitude 400 361 East latitude 800 301 North of the equator at a distance of 261km and 583km to Kano respectively. Kwara state shares common borders with Oyo, Ondo, and Osun states to the south; Niger and Sokoto states to the North, benue, and Kogi states to the East while to the West, Kwara state has a long common boundary with the republic of Benin. With this location of Kwara state, Ilorin, the state capital therefore can be described as the gateway to the Northern, southern and Eastern part of the country (Raheem, 2009).

According to 2006 population census, the population of Ilorin emirate council was put at 1, 015, 317 for both sexes. The population of male was put at 506, 405 while that of female was put at 508, 912. Table 1.1: Population of Ilorin Emirate LGA Both sexes Male Female Asa 124,668 62,751 61,917 Ilorin East 207,462 104,801 102,661 Ilorin South 209,251 103,606 105,645 Ilorin West 365,221 180,387 184,834 Moro 108,715 54,860 53,855 Total 1015,317 506,405 508,912

Source: National Population commission 2006


7


8

Suitability of the Soils The general good behaviour of traditional buildings in Ilorin town is a sign that

most of the soils available in the area are suitable for construction One of the most current soil is lalerite. This type of soil is known world over for its general good properties for construction with a peculiar interesting aspect which is the very good stability of their clays, close to that of Kaolinzite.

Ferralitic soil is also in abundance within the area which also have the same interesting properties. These soils are well known in the country as they have good properties. Properties of Soils

It should be noted, however, that an exhaustive knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of a soil is always necessary. It is important to be fully aware of four main properties, which are:-

a. The texture or grain size distribution of the soil, expressed as percentages of stones, gravel, sand, silt alluvium, clay and colloids,

b. The plasticity of the soil, or the ease with which it can be moulded, c. The compactability of the soil or the potential to reduce it to a minimum of its

porosity. d. The cohesion of the soil or the ability of the particles making it up to remain

linked.

Climatic Condition of Ilorin On the basis of the available climatic data, Kwara State is known as the

transition zone between the semi-arid part of Nigeria and the humid coastal belt and the general climatic condition in Ilorin is obtained from the relevant data on Kwara State. Particularly from the records registered at the weather station in Ilorin.

There are two main seasons in form, the wet season extends from May to October and the dry season from September to April. The winds originate from the equatorial rain belt and blows from the high pressure zone which occurs over the Atlantic Ocean during the period. It has a speed of 2.59m/s. The dry season is accompanied by the harmattan, the dust-laden wind blowing from the North-East, Ilorin lies within the tropical climate region. It has a speed of I .58m/s. Maximum precipitation occurs in September, or towards the end of the wet season. The dry season with temperature as high as 38°C during drought condition. Scope of the Study

The study covers the use of Earth (Ceramic materials) in Ilorin, the Capital of Kwara State where there exists earth materials abundantly as a substitute for expensive building materials.


9

Literature Review

Brick is the oldest manufactured material. Sun dried bricks were being made in the Middle East by about 6000BC with approximate dimension 5.5 x 95 x 20cm. Fired bricks were being produced in the same region by 3500 BC. The technology later spread to China, India and was introduced to Europe by the Romans. Evidence of good use of this material can be seen on the Great wall of China. These bricks for construction are low cost, easily fired clay with high silica, high alakali, high iron oxide and gritty materials found in natural deposits fired at relatively low temperature of between 800 - 900°C using compressive strength that ranges from 2000 — 8500 PSI.

Fired bricks in the past have been manufactured in the localities where they are

found and these manufacturing units supply the bricks for the locality. In Nigeria earthenware clay abounds. In the Northern parts we have them prominently at Sokoto, Ilorin. Abuja, Zaria, Katsina, Minna and Jos. In the Eastern part we have places like Ubakala, Umuahia, Uyo, Enugu and in the Western parts we have places like Ifon, Abeokuta, Ife Ekiti, Lagos, Ikere-Ekiti, Ijan.-Ekiti and Ile-Ife. To harness this natural endowment to the advantage of the Nigerian populace for building, there is the need for the government to develop production plants all over the Country as many clay sites of reasonable millions of tonnage as possible. This can be aided through the development of a very good transport network of road and adaptation of Hoffman Kilns which is the most economical for firing of bricks.

According to Aradeon (1996), production of bricks on site where the shales are

abundant can be placed on continuous moving trucks and transported to the moving mill. The ground material can be raised into the revolving screens, which deposits the screened clay on to steel band to convey it to either a hopper of the bricks machine, or to an extruding plant, which is fed by a screw in a similar manner to a mixing machine. The extruded clay slip is cut into bricks by wires. This can be made into pressed bricks by placing them in a press, which also provides the fog. The Hoffman Kiln is built such that it is divided into compartments or chambers and the process is continuous.

Buildings in most parts of the world are classified according to their resistance

to fire. Encyclopedia Britanica (1992) writes that a standard fire test is used in testing samples of materials. In this test, the samples are exposed to a fire of specific intensity. The materials are graded for their ability to withstand the fire. The healing may be subjected to certain hours. The bricks, which must have undergone a temperature of between 800°C - 900°C will be able to withstand the test of time if it is promoted as one of the accepted materials in Nigeria. Encyclopedia Britannica (1992) states that in England during the middle age 400 AD -1 500AD, the use of bricks declined owing to changes in the architectural style and availability of wood, stone, and other building


10

materials, which were assumed to be cheaper. The Encyclopedia states further that the technology was revisited following the Great fire of London in 1666 when many of the buildings in the city had been made of wood. Today, building bricks remain important construction and decorative material. This is owing to its being by far the largest used production in building construction in many parts of the world. In modem day architecture, brick work is used to relieve monotomy of a large expanse of plain wall,, while others deliberately use it for the starkness of large plain wall to emphasize them. Some of the Common Household Items Produced from Clay are Discussed as follows Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic clay tiles dates back to 13th century in Europe with the use of local clay. It is a traditional craft with a long history. All kinds of tiles are made in much the same way. The sheet of clay are pressed, moulded and fired in the Kiln in the same process as is used for making bricks. They may be left in smooth or rough state; the ceramic tiles can be used by home builders for roofing, floor and wall. They could be in variety of colours, forms, and textures, which provide opportunity for imaginative designs.

Bolanle (2007) expressed that traditional pitched roofs are the best way to cap a building on the basis of longevity. It as well conserves ground of fitting with other older buildings and because they produce more interesting building. The shade of the roof has been a dominant influence on the plan of a building throughout the history of architecture. Nothing gives a roof such character as a double chambered clay tiles. It adds a lot of unmistakable appeal and profile to town houses. And the further quality of clay tile durability requires that material have intrinsic characteristics, which allows them to weather gradually. Clay tile meets the bill. Another important additional virtue clay tiles have is that they can be fixed individually, they allow movement and shrinkage in the underlying structure. They can move without breaking their weather proofing seal.

The method of manufacturing is either by press or extrusion. Tile roofs

produced with these methods are common and popular in the Mediterranean area and in low countries of Western Europe. The resurgence of its use in Britain started in 1983 with three leading Construction Companies taking the largest stakes in clay roof tiles. Since natural clay have no modern substitute the advantages can be appreciated by Nigerian builders if it is harnessed and made accessible to every intending home owner at affordably cheap prices as desired.


11

Sanitary Wares

The sanitary wares are fired clay products and conveniently use water in disposing waste from the toilets through designed channels in the water closets, wash hand basins or drain pipe to an hygienic deposit. Other items worthy of note in the toilets are bidets and pedestal. These objects are formed in the plaster moulds with controlled property clay slip, dried, glazed and fired in the tunnel Kilns.

A number of designs for water closets can be obtained in whatever choice of colour in glazes. What is paramount is that the outlet should be trapped and should discharge horizontally. The clay ware drain pipes known as vitrified drain and sewer pipes have been manufactured since 1845 (Bertlett, 1979). As cited by Hwoko (1996), they also have additional chemical resistance property. In view of the flow involved, these sanitary disposal systems are usually designed as a gravity system meant to collect and convey water borne wastes for hygienic disposal.

The basis raw materials that are required for making of sanitary wares and

glazes are the triaxial of clay-silica-feldspar. The ball clay can be sourced all over the country, Kaolin have few geological place of occurrence such as lkere-Ekiti, Abeokuta, Kankara, Jos and lsan-Ekiti. Feldspar is known for its large occurrence at Okene, Abeokuta, Zaria, Jos, Ijero-Ekiti, Guzau and Bauchi. All these materials occur in millions of tonnage and at commercial quantity.

Militating Factors against Ceramic Building Products in Nigeria

Considering the high level of ceramic raw materials available in Nigeria, building materials that are clay based are supposed to be very modest. In the late 70s and 80s, when burnt bricks were introduced at industrial level to the building industry, it was very affordable. This situation changed with the economic situation arising from the recession in foreign earnings and subsequent hike in oil to generate local power. These problems led to the close down of some production plants when it was not economically viable to produce goods at the market cost of local gas. A few industries that could afford to manage to continue produced ceramic product at such a price that is just good enough for the upper class in this society.

Looking at the total number of the functioning ceramic industries and what the

local consumptions are, the ceramic plants are grossly inadequate. The ones owned by local investors are difficult to manage and prior to the handing over of power to the civilian administration in Nigeria, 29th May, 1999, the industrial climate had been very unfavorable for foreign investors who might be interested in establishing ceramic factories. There are constant power failure from National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), insecurity of life and property from the men of the underworld, petroleum scarcity, very bad infrastructural facility and weak economy — all of which have made


12

a mockery of ceramic building materials which should be the most accessible to all in terms of cost.

This negative trend can only be corrected if petroleum products prices stabilize for the industrial consumptions. Any identified clay deposits should carry a production site, by installation of Hoffman Kiln and brickmaking plant for continuous production at very cheap and attractive cost.

The building construction companies in conjunction with the public shareholders should establish on the sites clay building product industries to meet up with local consumption. The Federal Government of Nigeria should establish machine tool industries for fabrication of spare-parts to remedy the previous method whereby production is brought to a halt due to late arrival of imported spares. Conclusion In the current times of change in material utilization for enhancing housing provision in this millennium, ceramics should not just be perceived as for mere pottery, as it includes high strength, hardest, most wear and creep resistant materials. Bricks, tiles and sanitary materials can be used in a lot of innovative ways to create “heat sink” effect, economy of construction, time and cost. The sanitary wares can create new loft of contemporary bathroom with flawless chrome or walnut finishes which natural tiles made in various shapes, and colours have no modern substitute. All the above materials, which contribute significantly to structures, can help indigenous construction firms because they are not expensive and they are appropriate for our climate. Furthermore, the effort of Nigerian building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to develop model made in Nigeria affordable homes or housing units using literite clay bricks in Kano, Delta, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Niger, Ondo, Kebbi, and Benue State is highly commendable and should be encouraged. Recommendations The use of locally prepared building materials and locally sourced building materials should be given due boost. Local building materials related to these age long materials like brick mud, burnt brick, and sandcrete blocks, are strongly suggested for possible replacement of conventional building materials with local substitutes in order to reduce total cost. The local building materials and locally sourced materials have a potential life span of mope than 50 years and with no risk of either corroding or decay, they are also known to be immuned to effect of termites, insects and rodents. Realizing the importance of local building materials in provision of housing, necessary impetus should be given to researches into their use.


13

Some planning authorities who hitherto restrict people from using local

building materials in the cities should be made to relax such stringent conditions with a view to encouraging developers to commence their development. More importantly, governments should on their own demonstrate and give good examples by using these locally produced building materials in the construction of government quarters and other projects rather than mere campaigning to people. Since the culture of the people play a major and permeating role in our planning, this has not been fully reckoned in the past and it has led to failures in addressing housing problems. It is therefore highly recommended that the culture of the people should be taken into consideration in the evolvement, construction and provision of housing for people. A view earlier advanced by Omole ( 2001). Implications for Technical Education

Clay is commercially important as a raw material because it occurs naturally, and it enriches the curriculum, because, clay products are available locally to teach the students this will make them enterprising and employable by self or others. It will also assist them in the area of skill acquisition and to be self reliant after graduation. As clay can be used to produce various items like clay roofing tiles, sanitary ware such as w.c pans, slab urinals, baths, bricks clay pipes etc. instead of roaming about the street in search of white collar jobs after graduation which are in short supply. As various tiers of government are laying more emphasis presently on entrepreneur skills.

When clay products are practically developed, it can generate fund for technical and vocational schools to boost their internal revenue generation and aesthetic value to the traditional home community in which the schools are situated.

References Aradeon, D. (1996) “Space and House form in Traditional Materials and Building

Methods-Yoruba Country” Journal of Build with Earth, 1, (1), 33 — 40. Bolanle W. (2007). Elements of Rural Housing in Agbola, S. B. & Egunjobi, L. (Eds.)

Readings in housing development and management, Ibadan: Malijoe soft print, Nigeria.

Encyclopedia Britannica (1992) The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Macropedia, 3,

Knowledge in Depth, London, 452465. Federal Republic of Nigeria (1991). National Housing Policy for Nigeria, Federal

Ministry of Works and Housing, Lagos.


14

Federal Government of Nigeria (2002). Government white paper on the report of the

Presidential Committee on Urban Development and Housing, Lagos: Federal government press.

Hornby AS. (1999) Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, Oxford University Press,

New York. Hwoko, D. (1996) “Mud, the Material for Building: Its Structural and Environmental

Qualities”, Journal of Building with Earth 1, (1), 49-60. NISER (2003). Housing perspective of Poverty in Nigeria. NISER, 287 – 336. Omole, F. (2001). Basic Issues in housing development, Ondo: femobless publications. Raheem, A. (2009). “The role of Buglar Bars in crime control and fire incidents in

residential Buildings”, unpublished MSC dissertation, department of urban and regional planning, university of Ibadan.


15

CERAMIC MATERIALS AND THE 21ST CENTURY HOUSING …...CERAMIC MATERIALS AND THE 21ST CENTURY HOUSING PROVISION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION By RAFIU A. SHEHU Department

Documents